Windrowing harvester



April 6, 1954 J. w. RYDEN WINDROWING HARVESTER Original Filed March 17, 1950 6 Shee'ts-Sheet l INVENTOR LMMES 14 RYOE/V April 1954 J. w. RYDEN wmnaowmc HARVESTER 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 17,1950

April 6, 1954 J. w. RYDEN 74,

' w mnaowmc HARVESTER Original Filed March 17, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR r 1 MES 14/. R705 P 1954 J. w. RYDEfN WINDROWING HARVESTER Original Filed Ma ch 17, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS April 6, 1954 J. w. RYDE'N WINDROWING HARVESTER Original Filed March 17, 1950 mww wmw mu.

April 6, 1954 v J. w. iwD-Ew 2374,1182.

WINDROWING HARVESTER Original Filed March 17, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR J' 4M$ 14 RYOE/l/ Patented Apr. 6, 1954 Continuation of application Serial No. 150,229, March 17, 1950. This application July 25, 1952,

- Serial No. 300,848

3 Claims. (Cl. 56192) This application is a continuation of application -Serial No. 150,229, filed March 17, 1950, now abandoned, and has to do with an invention relating to harvesters and more particularly to a self propelled harvester for cutting plant growth, such as standing grain, and piling the same in windrows from which it can be picked up by another machine such as a threshing machine or baler.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved windrowing harvester that will cut a wide swath of standing grain, or similar material, and pile all of the material cut in a single swath into a single windrow which the machine straddles as it progresses and which windrow is spaced from the wheel tracks of the machine so that the cut material will be supported on the stubble left standing and out of contact with the ground, which harvester has a single engine which propels it and operates the cutting mechanism, which includes a grain receiving table which supports the cutter bar and a reel for moving cut material onto the table, and manually controlled, power operated means for varying the level of the cutter bar and reel above the ground to accommodate'the machine to plant growth of different heights and to different ground conditions, which includes means for adjustably changing the position of the grain table and reel relative to the ground and to each other, and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to operate and not subject to clogging or other malfunctioning in use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a harvesting machine illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

.Figure 4 is a rear end elevational view, with parts broken away, of the machine;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 2; v

Figure 6 is a rear elevational view of the grain table and backboard assembly of the machine;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 1-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view line 8-8 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a fragmentary portion of the machine on the line 9-9 of Figure 2; and

Figure 10 is an enlarged perspective view of an operative component of the cutter blade operating mechanism of the machine.

With continued reference to the drawings the machine has an elongated dead axle I0 which is preferably formed of a length of suitable steel tubing. Cranks or brackets I I and I2 are secured to the opposite ends of the axle II] and main drive Wheels, I3 and I4 are journaled on the cranks II and I2 respectively below the axle I0 so that the axle is supported at an elevation above the centers of the main wheels. The axle II! has a length suflicient to give the machine a wide Wheel base so that there will be no tendency for the machine to upset, the machine will not be prone to dig into the ground at any part thereof due to unevenness of the area over which themachine is propelled and there will be ample room between the main wheels of the machine for the windrow so that the grain will not lie in the wheel tracks.

A horizontally disposed main frame is positioned between the wheels I3 and I4 and has the forward end supported by the wheels. Specifically, the frame is of generally triangular shape and has the front end mounted on the axle ID, the frame comprising two side members I5 and I6 each connected at one end to the axle I0 near a corresponding end of the axle. These side members converge rearwardly from the axle ID with the member I6 making a sharper angle with the axlethan the member I5, the frame terminating in a blunt rear apex where the rear ends of the side members I5 and I6 are connected by a short cross member I l. The ends of the member's I5 and It at the front end of the frame are disposed substantially perpendicular to the axle II] and substantially parallel to each other..

A steerable wheel assembly I8 supports the rear end of the horizontally disposed frame, the assembly being disposed between the drive wheels I3 and I4 and nearer tov the wheel I3 than to the wheel I4 and thereby. form a space between'the wheel assembly I8 and the other wheel I4 of the pair of drive wheels I3 and I4 for the passage of the cut grain'therethrough without being disturbed, as shown in Figure 2. Specifically, the assembly I8 is secured to the under side. of the frame at the rear end of the latter and a yoke I9 of inverted U shapehas its intermediate position pivotally connected to the structure I8 by a pivot pin 20 and extends downwardly from 3 the under side of the fifth wheel structure. A rear axle 2| is secured to the lower end of the yoke I9 and a pair of rear wheels 22 and 23 are mounted on the axle 2| at respectively opposite sides of the yoke I9.

A worm wheel is secured on the pin 20 above the bottom wall of the structure [8 and is enclosed in a gear housing 24. A worm enclosed in a portion 25 of the housing 24 meshes with the worm wheel and a shaft 26 projects forwardly from the worm and is connected by a universal joint 21 with a steering shaft 28 which extends forwardly to an operative connection with a manually operated steering wheel 29 as will be later described in detail.

An auxiliary frame 30 of elongated rectangular shape is mounted on the main frame and rests at its rear end on the side members i and [6 near the rear cross member I I of the main frame. Near its front end the auxiliary frame 36 rests on the front cross member 3| of the main frame which is above and substantially parallel to the axle l9 and the auxiliary .frame extends forwardly of the axle l6.

An internal combustion engine 32 is mounted on the auxiliary frame 36 at the rear end and at one side of this auxiliary frame and the engine is enclosed in a suitable hood 33 at the rear end of which is provided an engine cooling radiator 34. At its front end the engine is provided with a clutch assembly 35 and with a reduction gear unit 36 and the engine drive shaft 31 projects forwardly from the reduction gear unit 36 for connection to the main wheels and cutting mechanism of the machine by connecting means later to be described in detail.

A steering column 38 extends vertically through the auxiliary frame 36 near the front end of this auxiliary frame and the steering wheel 29 is secured to the upper end of this steering column. At its lower end the steeringcolumn is connected to the front end of the steering shaft 28 by a beveled gear train 39 so that the rear wheels 22 and 23 can be manually steered from the steering wheel 29.

A platform '40 is provided on the portion of the auxiliary frame not occupied by the engine 32 and its hood 33 and an operators seat 4| is mounted on this platform adjacent the steering end of the auxiliary frame 36 around the steering column 38 and the front portion of the seat 4|.

A differential unit 43 is positioned above and somewhat forwardly of the axle I6 and tubular axle housings 44 and 45 project in opposite di- 'recti'ons from this differential unit and are disposed substantially parallel to the axle It). A pinion gear shaft 46 projects rearwardly from the differential unit 43 and is connected by a universal joint 41 to the engine drive shaft 31 and axle shafts 48 and 49 are journaled in the tubular housings 44 and 45 respectively.

The axle shaft 48 is connected at one end to the mechanism of the differential unit 43 and is journaled near its opposite end in a portion of the bracket H while the axle shaft 49 is connected at one end to the differential mechanism and is journaled near its opposite end in a portion of the bracket i2. A chain sprocket 48' is secured on the axle shaft 48 at the outer side of the bracket II and a complementary chain sprocket I3 is secured to the inner side of the main wheel l3 and these chain sprockets are driv-ingly connected by a link chain 56. A chain sprocket 49' is secured on the end of the axle shaft 49 at the outer side of the bracket l2. a

complementary chain sprocket I4 is secured to the inner side of the main wheel i4 and a link chain 5| connects these chain sprockets.

With this arrangement the main wheels 13 and i4 are driven from the engine 32 through the differential unit 43. The main wheel [3 is provided with a brake mechanism 52 and the main wheel i4 is provided with a brake mechanism 53. The brake mechanism 52 is connected by suitable means, such as the fluid line 54 with a brake pedal .55 and the brake 53 is connected by a similar fluid line 56 to a brake pedal 51, the pedals 55 and 51 being independently connected to the brakes 52 and 53 so that either one of the main drive wheels can be retarded by the corresponding brake and the drive continued by the other wheel through the differential mechanism.

With this arrangement the operator steers the machine by steering the rear wheel truck assembly by means of the steering wheel 29 and also by differentially braking the main wheels I3 and I4.

A grain table and backboard assembly '60 is disposed forwardly of the front end of the main frame, such assembly including a horizontally disposed table 62 which is arranged transversely of and below the main frame and forwardly of the drive wheels 13 and 14, the table being of a length such that slightly more than one-half lies on the side of the other wheel I4 of the drive wheels adjacent said one wheel [3 with the remainder lying beyond the side of the wheel [4 remote from the wheel [3, as clearly shown in Figure 2. An upstanding backboard 61 extends along the side edge of the table '62 adjacent the main frame. Arranged along the side edge of the table 62 remote from the main frame is a cutting means for severing the standing grain stalks. lhe cutting means includes a continuous bar 63 and the cutter bar assembly '64 is mounted on the upper edge of the bar 63 and projects forwardly therefrom. Suitable grain or guide boards, as indicated at 65, are mounted one at each end of the bar 63 for separating the grain along the edges of the swath cut by the machine.

A pair of endless conveyers .66 and 61, arranged in confronting end to end spaced relation are superimposed longitudinally of and upon the table 62 forwardly of the backboard 6| and each of said conveyers is mounted for rotation about horizontal axes. The conveyer '66 comprises two horizontal axes or rollers 68 and '69 which extend transversely of the grain table frame and are journaled at their opposite ends in the frame. The inner roller 68 is located to the left of the mid-length location of the grain table and the outer roller 69 is located at the left-hand end of the table frame, as "viewed in Figure 2. A belt 16 of a suitable flexible material, such as canvas, is trained around the rollers 68 and 69 and together with these rollers constitutes the conveyer 6'6.

The conveyer 61 comprises two horizontal axes or end rollers H and 12 and an intermediate roller 13. The inner end roller 12 is positioned substantially at the mid-length location "of the grain table frame and the outer end roller H is positioned at the right-hand end of the frame, as viewed in Figure '2, while the intermediate roller 13 is positioned substantially midway between the end rollers "H and '12.. These rollers H, 12 and 13 extend transversely of the grain table 62 and are journaled at their opposite ends in the table and an endless belt 14 .is trained around the end rollers T] and 12. The roller 69 is spaced from the roller '12 to provide between the adjacent ends of the conveyer assemblies an opening I5 through which the out material is dumped onto the groundto form a windrow. The spacing between the rollers 68 and I2 and providing the opening I5 is located between the steerable wheel assembly I8 and the drive wheel I4. fhe top flights of the two belts I and. 14 move toward this opening so that all of the material cut in a single swath is moved to the opening I and iled in a single windrow one side of which is just inside the main drive wheel I4 and the other side of which is just inside the adjacent rear wheel 23, the space between the wheel I4 and the wheel 23 being suflicient so that the grain dumped through the opening does not fall into the wheel tracks.

The portion of the backboard 6| intermediate the wheel assembly I8 and the wheel I4 is provided with a rectangular opening I6 which registers with the opening I5 between the conveyers 66 and 61 and the space between the wheel assembly I8 and the other wheel I4 of the pair of drive wheels I3 and I4 so that the material windrowed by the machine passes through the opening I6 in the backboard and is not dragged by the backboard.

A first main link 80 is pivotally connected at its rear end to the front end of the side member I5 of the main frame and a second main link 8| is pivotally connected at its rear end to the front end of the side member I6of the main frame.

These links 80 and BI incline downwardly and forwardly from the front end of the main frame, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 1, and are pivotally connected at their forward ends adjacent the lower edge of the backboard component 6| of this assembly. The backboard is provided with two pairs of rearwardly extending, apertured lugs, as indicated at 82 and 83 and the links 80 and 8| are provided with apertures near their front ends and are pivotally connected to the lug formations 82 and 83 by pivot pins extending through registering apertures in the links and the lugs. These main links 80 and BI constitute the main support of the assembly 60 on the machine frame. A braced strut assembly 84 projects upwardly from the front end of the main frame side member I5 and a similar braced strut assembly 85 projects upwardly from the front end of the main frame side member I6. 'A first auxiliary link 86 is ivotally connected at its forward end to the backboard 6| near the top edge of the latter and is pivotally connected at its rearward end to the upper end of the strut assembly 84. A second auxiliary link 81 is pivotally connected at its forward end to the backboard 6| near the upper edge of the latter and is pivotally connected near its rearward end to the upper end of the strut assembly 85. The secondary links may be connected to the backboard by suitable means such as the lugs 88 and 89 secured to the rear side of the backboard and pivot pins extending through registering apertures in these lugs and the corresponding secondary links. Near its rearward end each of the secondary or auxiliary links 86 and 81 is provided with a series of apertures spaced apart longitudinally of the links, as indicated at 90 and 9| in Figures 1 and 5, and these secondary links are adjustably connected to the upper ends of the corresponding strut assemblies 84 and '85 by suitable bolts or pins extending through apertures in the upper ends of the strut assemblies and selected apertures of the series of apertures in the auxiliary links. The geometry of the structure is. such that each auxiliary link is disposed above and substantially parallel to a corresponding main link providing a quadrilateral arrangement which maintains the backboard 6| substantially vertical and the grain table 62 substantially horizontal as the grain table and backboard assembly is raised and lowered relative to the machine frame.

In order to raise and lower the assembly 60 two expansible chamber hydraulic devices 92 and 93 are connected between the axle I0 and the main links and 8| respectively, as is particularly illustrated in Figures 1 and 5 for swinging the main links about the pivotal connections between the rear ends of these links and the axle brackets II and I2.

These hydraulic devices may be operated from an engine driven hydraulic pump and manually controlled by a suitable manually operated valve. not illustrated.

A horizontally disposed reel 99 is positioned longitudinally of and above the table 62 and forwardly of the backboard 6| and is supported on the backboard for rotation about a horizontal axis. Specifically, there are two supporting arms 94 and 95 which are pivotally connected at their rear ends to the backboard 6| at the respectively opposite ends and adjacent the top edge of the latter and extend forwardly above the grain table I52.v The arm 94 carries, near its outer end, a bearing 96 in which the reel shaft 91 is journaled near one end of the latter and the arm 95 carries, near its outer end, a similar bearing 98 in which the reel shaft is journaled near its opposite end. The reel 99 is mounted on the horizontal axis or reel shaft 91 and rotates therewith.

A shaft I00 is journaled on the rear side of the backboard 6| by suitable bearing brackets and extends from the location of the main link 80 to the adjacent end of the assembly 60. A lever arm |0I is secured at one end to the inner end of the shaft I00 and is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the link 80 intermediate the. length of the latter by a link 19. A lever arm I02 is secured at one end to the outer end of the shaft I00 and extends from the shaft in a direction opposite the lever arm IOI. A brace link I03 is pivotally connected at one end to the lever arm I02 and is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the reel supporting arm94 at a location intermediate the length of the reel supporting arm. The arm I02 is provided with a series of apertures spaced apart longitudinally of the arm and the brace I03 is provided at its end connected to the reel supporting arm 94 with a series of apertures spaced apart longitudinally of the brace so that the brace can be adjustably connected between the arm I02 and the reel supporting arm 94 to support the reel in a desired position above the grain table 62.

A second shaft I 04 is journaled on the rear side of the backboard 6| by suitable bearing means and extends from the main link 8| to the righthand end of the assembly 60. A lever arm I05 is secured at one end to the inner end of the shaft I04 and is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the link 8| intermediate the length of the latter by a link I8. A lever arm I06 is secured at one end to the outer end of the shaft I04 and extends in a direction opposite the lever arm I05. A brace link I0'I is pivotally connected at one end to the lever arm I06 at the end of the latter remote from the shaft I04 and this brace link is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the reel supporting arm 95 intermediate the length of the latter. The link ill? is adjustably connectible to the lever arm lot and the reel supporting arm 95 by a series of spaced apart apertures in the brace linkand in the lever arm, as described above in connection with the brace link I63 to support the corresponding end of the reel at a desired elevation above the grain table of the machine.

Vfith the above described linkage, when the grain table and backboard assembly is raised by the hydraulic devices 92 and 93 the reel will be simultaneously raised but to an extent somewhat greater than that to which the grain table is raised in order to automatically condition the machine to different heights of standing grain.

Means are provided for driving the conveyers and the reel from the drive shafts 48 and. 49 and may conveniently comprise the following mech-- anism:

A shaft I If! is journaled on the rear side of the backboard %I hear the lower edge of the backboard and at the left-hand end as viewed in Figure 2. One end of this shaft is received in a gear box III and the shaft of the end roller 8!: of the conveyer unit 55 extends into this gear box. The shaft I It is drivingly connected to the roller 69 by a pair of beveled gears of which the gear H2 is secured on the end of the shaft lid and the gear I it is secured on the adjacent end of the roller shaft. A sprocket lid is secured on the axle shaft 48 and a complementary sprocket I I5 is secured on the shaft Ilil and a link chain H6 drivingly connects the sprockets IM and. '5 so that the shaft II!) is driven from the axle shaft 48 and in turn drives the outer end roller of the conveyer B8.

A stub shaft I I? is journaled on the back side of the backboard BI near the upper edge of the latter and above the shaft III]. Complementary sprockets lid and ill on the shafts Ill] and II! are drivingly connected by a chain H8 so that the shaft II? is driven by the shaft III]. A sprocket 2H is secured on the outer end of the shaft II? and a complementary sprocket 2I8 is journaled on the reel shaft ill at the outer side of the reel supporting arm 8 and a chain H3 drivingly connects these sprockets so that the reel shaft sprocket is driven from the stub shaft In. A one way drive is provided between the sprocket journaled on the reel shaft and the reel shaft by a clutch device generally indicated at I20 in Figure 2 and illustrated in detail in Figure 7.

In this arrangement the sprocket 2!:8 journaled' on the reel shaft 91 has a cylindrical hub one end of which has a flat bearing surface and the other end of which is provided with an annu-- lar series of ratchet teeth I22. A collar I23 secured on the reel shaft 91 bears against the flat end of the sprocket hub and holds the sprocket hub against movement longitudinally of the reel shaft in the corresponding direction. A- clutch element I24 is mounted on the reel shaft and is drivingly connected'to the reel shaft by suitable means, such as the key I25 which permits the element I24 to move longitudinally of the reel shaft while providing a torque transmitting connection' between the element and the shaft. The element I24 is provided on its end facing the sprocket hub with an annular series of ratchet teeth I2i5 which mesh with the teeth I22. on the sprocket hub. The teeth I22 and I26 are so inclined that the sprocket will drive the element I24 and the reel shaft 91- in one direction and the clutch: element and reel shaft can overrun the sprocket in the same direction of rotation. A compression spring I27 surrounds the clutch element and bears at one end against an annular shoulder provided on the clutch element adjacent the sprocket hub and bears at its opposite end against an abutment washer I28 secured on the reel shaft 91 by a nut I253. The spring I21 resiliently urges the clutch element into driving engagement with the sprocket hub so that the reel shaft will be driven by the sprocket whenever the speed of rotation of the sprocket is as great as the speed of rotation of the reel shaft in the operative direction of rotation.

Since the axle shaft 48 and the pivotal connection between the rear end of the link and the axle it have separate axes which are slightly spaced apart, raising and lowering the grain table and backboard assembly in the mannerdes'cribed above will change the tension on the chain IIB. In order to maintain this chain at the proper tension a chain tightener is provided, as particularly illustrated in Figure 8. This chain tightener comprises a lever lBEI pivotally mounted'intermediate its length on the bracket I3? which proiects rearwardly from the backboard 6i and in which the shaft I If) is journaled. An idler sprocket I32 is carried by this lever I39 at the upper end of the lever and bears on the upper fli ht of the chain I It. A tension spring I33 is connected between the lower end of the lever I30 and the lower edge of the backboard 8| to apply a resilient pressure on the sprocket I32 and maintain the chain I I5 in a properly tensioned condition.

A shaft I 35' is journaled on the back side of the backboard EI at the bottom edge of the backboard and extends from the link 8| to the right-hand end of the grain table and backboard assembly, as viewed in Figure 2'. Complementary sprockets 22d and 22! are secured on the inner end of this shaft and on the axle shaft 49 and a chain I35 trained around these sprockets drivingly connects the axle shaft 49 to the shaft I35.

A chain tightener,v not shown, similar to that illustrated in Figure 8 and described. in detail above is applied to the chain I36.

At its outer end the shaft I35 extends into a gear box I31 and the adjacent end of the shaft of the end roller 1! also extends into this gear box and the shaft is drivingly connected to the end roller by a beveled gear I38 secured on the outer end of the shaft I35 and a beveled gear I39 secured on the corresponding end of the shaft of the roller ll and meshing with the gear I38. A stub shaft IE0 is iournaled on the rear side of the backboard above the outer end portion of the shaft I35 and complementary chain sprockets 2 22 and 223 on the shaft I35 and. the stub shaft I40 are drivingly connected by a chain MI so that the stub shaft I 30 is driven by the shaft I35.

Complementary chain sprockets 224 and 225 are provided on the outer end of the stub shaft Ieil and on the reel shaft 9'! at the outer side of the reel supporting arm and a chain I42 connects the sprockets on the stub shaft and on'the reel shaft so that the reel shaft is driven from the stub shaft IEO.

A one way driving unit, generally indicated at I43, and of the same construction as that illustrated in: Figure 7 andv described above, is connected between the sprocket journaled on the reel shaft and the reel shaft to provide a one way drive for the corresponding end of the reel shaft.

With this arrangement, when the machine is being driven straight ahead both conveyers 66 and 61 and bothends of the reel shaft 91 are driven at the same speed. However, when the machine is making a turn the conveyer at the inner side of the turn will be slowed down in proportion to the slowing down of the inner main wheel I3 or I4. The reel will continue to be driven at the same speed, however, since itwill be driven from the outer main wheel by the driving connection at the end of the reel shaft at the outer side of the turn and the one way driving connection on the reel shaft at the inner side of the turn will permit the real shaft to overrun this driving connection.

In order to permit the machine to move from place to place without operating the reel and the conveyers, suitable manually operated clutches are provided in the above described conveyer and reel driving mechanism. These clutches are preferably interposed between the axle shafts 48 and 49 and the chain sprockets mounted on and driven by these axle shafts and one of the clutches is illustrated in detail in Figure 9. The clutch on the axle shaft 48 has been selected for detailed illustration and, as illustrated in Figure 9, the chain sprocket H4 is journaled on the axle shaft 48 and is provided with a generally cylindrical hub one end of which provides a flat bearing surface and the other end of which is provided with an annular series of clutch teeth I45. This sprocket is held against movement longitudinally of the axle shaft by an abutment collar I46 secured on the shaft and bearing against the fiat end of the sprocket. A clutch element I41 is slidably mounted on the shaft 48 at the side of the sprocket hub provided with the clutch teeth I45 and has on its end adjacent the sprocket hub, clutch teeth I48 which engage with the clutch teeth I45 on the sprocket II4 to provide a driving connection between the clutch element and the sprocket. A driving connection is provided between the axle shaft 48 and the clutch element I41 by suitable means such as the key I49 which permits sliding movement of the clutch element toward and away from the sprocket hub. The clutch element is resiliently urged toward the sprocket hub to engage the teeth I 48 with the teeth I 45 by a compression spring I50 which surrounds a portion of the clutch element and bears at one end against an annular shoulder on the clutch element and at its opposite end against a spring abutment collar II secured on the axle shaft. The clutch element is provided with an annular groove I52 and a fork I53 surrounds the grooved portion of the clutch element and is provided with pins which engage in the groove. This forked element is pivotally mounted intermediate its length on the front end of the frame side member I5, and is connected at its end remote from the clutch element to a manually rotatable crank I54 by a link I 55. A similar clutch, not

shown, is provided between the axle shaft 49 and the gear thereon and the forked lever of this clutch is connected by a link I56 to the end of the crank I54 opposite that to which the link I55 is connected. The crank is positioned adjacent the.

sprocket drive I GI A gear box I62 is mounted onthe rear side of the backboard 6| and a shaft I63 connected at its rear end to the front end of the shaft I60 by a universal joint I64 extends into the gear box I62 and has a beveled gear I65 secured on its end within the'gear box. Actually, in order to provide for movement of the gear box with the assembly 60 during the raising and lowering movements of the latter, the gear I65 is mounted on a stub shaft I66 which projects out of the gear box and is connected to the shaft I63 by a second universal joint I61. The shaft I63 is also made extensible in lengthto accommodate for this movement of the gear box relative to the shaft I60.

A jack shaft I68 is journaled in brackets I69 and I10 which project rearwardly from the rear side of the backboard'BI and this shaft extends at one end into the gear box I62 and has a beveled gear I" secured thereon which meshes with the gear I 65 to drive the jack shaft I68 from the shafts I 60 and I63.

Two spaced apart, substantially parallel discs I12 and I13 are secured on the jack shaft I68 and are skewed at an angle to the axis of rotation of the jack shaft to provide a cam action when the jack shaft rotates.

A support bar-I14 extends transversely across the grain table frame and between the upper and lower flights of the conveyer belt 10. A swing lever I15 is pivotally connected intermediate its length to the bar I14 by a pivot pin I16 and is connected at-its front or outer end-of the cutter blade I58 by a pivotal connection I11. A ball I18 is mounted on the opposite or rear end of the swing bar I15 and is disposed between the two discs I12 and I13 so that this lever will be swung or. oscillated when the discs are rotated by the shaft I68 to reciprocate the cutter blade in the cutter bar guards.

e If desired, suitable clutch means, not shown, may be provided between the shaft 31 and the shaft I60 for manually discontinuing and resuming operation of the cutter blade as desired.-

The construction of the cam disc and ball arrangement is illustrated in detail in Figure 10.-

In order to counterbalance the weight of the grain table and backboard assembly an elongated beam I is secured to one side of themotor frame 30 and extends rearwardly of the main frame and suitable weights I8I are mounted on this beam at the rear end of the latter.

The mounting of the table, conveyer, backboard and reel assembly on the machine by the pivotal links 80 and 8| is such that this assembly can be easily removed and a sweep rake of conventional appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within i thev meaning? and range of.- equivalency .of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A windrowing harvester comprising a horizontally disposed main frame, a pair of main drive wheels arranged in parallel spaced relation positioned adjacent to and supporting the forward end of said frame, a steerable wheel assembly supporting the rear end of said frame, said wheel assembly being disposed between said main drive wheels and nearer to one of said wheels than to the other of said wheels and thereby forms a space between said wheel assembly and the other of said drive wheels of sufficient size for the passage of the cut grain therethrough without being disturbed, a horizontally disposed table arranged transversely of and below said frame and. forwardly of said drive wheels and connected to said frame, said table being of a length such that slightly more than one half lies on the side of the other of said drive wheels adjacent said one of said drive wheels with the remainder lying beyond the side of the other of said drive wheels remote from said one of said drive wheels, an upstanding backboard extending along the side edge of said table adjacent said frame, cutting means along the side edge of said table remote from said frame, a pair of endless conveyers arranged in confronting end to end spaced relation superimposed longitudinally of and upon said table forwardly of said backboard and each mounted for rotation about horizontal axes, the spacing between the confronting ends of said conveyers being located between said steerable wheel assembly and said other of said main wheels, said backboard being provided in the portion intermediate said wheel assembly and said other of said main wheels with an opening, said opening being in registry with the spacing between the confronting ends of said conveyers and the space between said wheel assembly and the other of said drive wheels, and a horizontally disposed reel positioned longitudinally of and above said table and forwardly of said backboard and supported on said backboard for rotation about a horizontal axis.

2. A windrowing harvester comprising a horizontally disposed main frame, a pair of main drive wheels arranged in parallel spaced relation positioned adjacent to and supporting the forward end of said frame, a steerable wheel assembly supporting the rear end of said frame, said wheel assembly being disposed between said main drive wheels and nearer to one of said wheels than to the other of said wheels and thereby forms a space between said wheel assembly and the other of said drive wheels of sufiicient size for the passage of the cut grain therethrough without being disturbed, a horizontally disposed table arranged transversely of and below said frame and forwardly of said drive wheels and connected to said frame for raising and lowering movement, said table being of a length such that slightly more than one half lies on the side of the other of said drive wheels adjacent said one of said drive wheels with the remainder lying beyond the side of the other of said drive wheels remote from said one of said drive wheels, an upstanding backboard extending along the side edge of said table adjacent said frame, cutting means along the side edge of said table remote from said frame, a pair of endless conveyers arranged in confronting end to end spaced relation superimposed. longitudinally of and upon said 12 table forwardly of said backboard and each mounted for rotation about horizontal axes, the spacing between the confronting ends of said conveyers being located between said steerable wheel assembly and said other of said main wheels, said backboard being provided in the portion intermediate said wheel assembly and said other of said main wheels with an opening, said opening being in registry with the spacing between the confronting ends of said conveyers and the space between said wheel assembly and the other of said drive wheels, a horizontally disposed reel posltioned longitudinally of and above said table and forwardly of, said backboard and 1 supported on said backboard for rotation about a horizontal axis, and means operatively connected to said table for effecting the raising and lowering movement of the latter.

3. A windrowing harvester comprising a horizontally disposed main frame, a pair of main drive wheels arranged in parallel spaced relation positioned adjacent to and supporting the forward end of said frame, a steerable Wheel assembly supporting the rear end of said frame, said wheel assembly being disposed between said main drive wheels and nearer to one of said wheels than to the other of said wheels and thereby forms a space between said wheel assembly and the other of said drive wheels of sufficient size for the passage of the cut grain therethrough without being disturbed, a horizontally disposed table arranged transversely of and below said frame and forwardly of said drive wheels and connected to said frame for raising and lowering movement, said table being of a length such that slightly more than one half lies on the side of the other of said drive wheels adjacent said one of said drive wheels with the remainder lying beyond the side of the other of said drive wheels remote from said one of said drive wheels, an upstanding backboard extending along the side edge of said table adjacent said frame, cutting means along the side edge of said table remote from said frame, a pair of endless conveyers arranged in confronting end to end spaced relation superimposed longitudinally of and upon said table forwardly of said backboard and each mounted for rotation about horizontal axes, the spacing between the confronting ends of said conveyers being located between said steerable wheel'assembly and said other of said main wheels, said backboard being provided in the portion intermediate said wheel assembly and said other of said main wheels with an opening, said opening being in registry with the spacing between the confronting ends of said conveyers and the space between said wheel assembly and the other of said drive wheels, a horizontally disposed reel positioned longitudinally of and above said table and forwardly of said backboard and supported on said backboard for rotation about a horizontal axis, adjustable means operatively connected to said reel for varying the position of said reel relative to said table, and. means op-' eratively connected to said tablefcr effecting the raising and lowering movement of the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 885,157 Hovland Apr. 21, 1908 1,792,691 Harris et al Feb. 17, 1931 2,510,245 Munter June 6, 19,50. 1 2,524,083 ,Ronning. Get. 3, 1950" 

